Evaluation of Masseter Muscle Thickness among Iraqi Adult Subjects with Dentate and Unilateral Partial Edentulism: An Ultrasonographic Study

Background: Mastication muscles and teeth functions play a very significant role in the equilibrium of occlusal and its function. Masseter muscle is considered the most observable of mastication muscles, which is regarded as one of the action signs of jaw muscle. Objective: The measurement and evaluation of masseter muscle thickness and compare it among dentate and unilateral partial edentulism by noninvasive ultrasonographic imaging technique was designed by the current study. Materials and Methods: Forty Iraqi persons were used as samples for the current study. The age range was from 18 to 48 years. The study groups are controlled dentate group 10 for each male and females and unilateral partial edentulism group 10 for each male and females. Masseter muscle thickness was measured through ultrasonography in Babylon Training Center for Primary Health Care/Ultrasonographic Department, in contraction and rest situations for two sides. Results: The thickness of the masseter muscle for both groups was significantly different ( P < 0.05). The differences were highly significant under occlusion and rest situations among males and females ( P < 0.05). However, when comparing the control and dentate groups among males and females was no difference in the thickness of muscle ( P > 0.05). The differences occurring during the thickness of masseter muscle evaluation between the control and an edentulous group according to gender were statistically significant ( P < 0.05). Conclusion: Ultrasonographic scanning is an important imaging procedure for accurately measuring the thickness of the masseter muscle, and the atrophy of the masseter muscle was proofed on the edentulous side.